Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 4 (LMD) episodes 11-12 review - Wake Up/Hot Potato Soup

Wake up

What’s this episode called? Wake up

Maybe in another 5 minutes

In this episode, Coulson’s rash attempt to make a move against senator Nadeer backfires and informs Coulson that they have a leak. The race is on to find it as Agent May LMD tries to find out what she is and real May faces the fight of her life.

It’s hard to pinpoint the central focus of this episode. If there’s one issue I have with it is that it’s a bit scatter-brained with various subplots all going on at once. Firstly, and least importantly we have Mack’s subplot. It’s relatively skippable and I have to wonder why he wasn’t up front with Yo-Yo in the first place but it’s harmless enough.

The other subplots are better integrated with each other but I’ll run through them individually anyway. Sorry for a lack of detail but anyway

So, Fitz’s investigation continues but Simmons thinks he’s grieving or something and is quite shocked to find out what he’s done, even accusing him of activating the eyes of the decoy (which he doesn’t deny for the record) and causing the leak. Fortunately, he manages to explain himself in time and his work does rat out Dr Radcliffe and for the first time in a while a prediction of mine actually came true.

May, suspecting her hand in the leak confronts Radcliffe and discovers a little bit more about her nature. It’s interesting to see that he doesn’t try and deny the fact that she is an LMD but deliberately refrains from letting her know her mission. He actually tells her pretty much everything aside from her mission. What she is, how she’s programmed, everything. It’ll be interesting to see how she takes this going forward as Radcliffe subtly suggests she get close to Coulson.

In the land of the real agent May, they keep trying out scenarios for May to be fighting to keep her sedated in the real world. It starts with her confronting multiple AIDAs, which she does and it’s really badass but ends with a simulation of Bahrain, where she successfully rescues the child. I wonder how easy it’ll be for May to recover from this ordeal, it’ll certainly be interesting.

Also, Radcliffe is apparently a moron, not for setting up an LMD to protect himself, one that Fitz wasn’t even remotely fooled by but for partnering up with Senator Nadeer and the watchdogs. You do not share an agenda in common and she has to talk to the superior, whoever that is. This alliance can only end badly.

An enjoyable if a little scatter-brained episode. We’ll see if the good work continues next time.

Rating 8/10

Hot Potato Soup

So, you melt some butter and toss in potatoes and onions to cover them in the butter. Add salt and pepper and leave to, wait, sorry, I was thinking about something else…

So, lots of revelations this week and I can’t help but feel we’re about to reach a climax. I have no idea what the episode format is this season other than there being 3 arcs and 22 episodes, this could have 6, 7, or 8 episodes. If I were to guess, I’d think it’d probably be 6, but let’s not delve into theories since I’m usually wrong

So, Agent Keonig has returned, and so has Agent Keonig, as Billy is kidnapped by the watchdogs, it’s up to Sam and the team to mount a rescue before they find the Darkhold. Meanwhile Fitz is interrogating LMD Radcliffe who has some surprise connections to Fitz’s past and Radcliffe and Ada are having to contend with meeting the superior.

The most underwhelming development of the episode was meeting the superior. He really didn’t come off as especially threatening and nor did he show off any badassness, all he was is a rich guy with some ties to the Russian government from the last season and beyond that very little else beside a penchant for torture.

His motivations are especially weak, he believes that Coulson is responsible for everything, because he’s a moron and hates inhumans essentially because he’s jealous of them. This is the superior of the watchdogs? Might’ve guessed really, I never thought the watchdogs were much to shout about anyway.

I mean, he just watched as Radcliffe killed two of his Henchmen. Now he has the Darkhold, Radcliffe could just kill him too and be on his merry way with the book. Sure, he’s not exactly prone to violence but…

Fitz trying to get into LMD Radcliffe’s head was more interesting as it did open up some personal wounds for Fitz. Most specifically his relationship with his father. Fitz’s development in the last few seasons has been mostly about where he is rather than where he’s come from, we’ve never known a lot about his past. So apparently, he had a father who emotionally abused him, continually saying he wasn’t clever enough before walking out on him when he was 10. It’s easy to show how that made him who he is, Simmons even spelt it out in the episode.

The interesting revelation that Aida has used the knowledge from the Darkhold to create a holographic brain that acts like a real one is interesting and leads them to unfortunate revelation of May being an LMD

The Koenig family, including the new pair that are introduced in this episode, provide a little bit of levity to what is otherwise a very very dark episode. Topping off the episode is the revelation that May is an LMD as she finally makes her move for the Darkhold. It’s tragic, but it only increases Coulson’s resolve.

The Watchdogs have the Darkhold and Coulson in their sights, we’re sure to be building up to something exciting next week.

Rating 8.5/10

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